Canal boost for Kariba irrigation

GOVERNMENT is set to construct an 18km canal from Lake Kariba to Chief Mola’s area in Nyaminyami which will support irrigation development.

This comes as Government has also approved the construction of the Karoi-Binga Road with a link road to Bumi Hills.

The road will pass through Mola.

Addressing stakeholders at a Nyaminyami development meeting in Siakobvu yesterday, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, said Government had made a conscious decision to bridge the development gap between outlying areas and other parts of the country.

“The situation where water just flows past areas such as Kanyemba to Cahora Bassa and into the Indian Ocean without being utilised should stop. We need to use the water wisely,” said VP Chiwenga.

“The plan by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement for irrigation covering 200ha should be implemented.

“The crops to be grown here will be decided, but irrigation should be one of those that should be supported by Government in each district.”

He said the water transportation system should complement the road system.

“The road and water should be used as the transportation system. The canal will be 18km to Chief Mola’s area and should not only be used to channel water to the area for irrigation, but should be used as a mode of transport.

“We want to use the canal for water transportation where small boats will ferry people into Lake Kariba where big boats to Kariba and Binga will be waiting,” said VP Chiwenga.

The canal will transform the area into a greenbelt with an initial target of at least 200ha. It can also be used for command fisheries.

VP Chiwenga directed ZimParks to stop charging community members using fishing rods.

He said fishing rods do not threaten the fish population in the lake.

VP Chiwenga said boundary areas had been left behind for too long.

“That should be a thing of the past. We said as Government after the issue was highlighted by President Mnangagwa we should attend to the issue soon after elections.

“It is no longer about electioneering, but we should say things and deliver,” he said.

“We cannot promise things that we care not to deliver on. We want to see things that uplift the lives of our people.”